[Elecraft] Split N/A

[Ian White]

The reason for programming a default "smart split" is to move the TX VFO
*away* from the frequency of the DX station. "How far to move?" is a
secondary issue.

No single value of frequency offset can be optimum for all modes, but
anything is better than leaving it at zero! As a frequent user of Split
for CW and RTTY, but only very rarely on SSB, I have found +3kHz a very
acceptable compromise. Obviously it isn't perfect; but remember it is
only a starting-point for tuning the pileup, so the exact value isn't
hugely important. 

The main point is: the default Split offset should *never, never* be
zero... and that is exactly where the K3 gets it wrong. When the user
double-presses A>B to escape from the "SPLIT N/A" situation, it brings
both VFOs onto the same frequency - leaving the user only one step away
from accidentally calling on top of the DX station. 

Other transceiver manufacturers recognise the need for better protection
against that hugely embarrassing mistake, which is why Smart Split has
become an industry standard. With one notable exception.
 

73 from Ian GM3SEK


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
Joe
>Subich, W4TV
>Sent: 02 October 2014 17:48
>To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Split N/A
>
>
>> And I do not have any issue with the K3 not going split with RTTY on
>> one freq and CW/SSB on the other. You have to admit operating RTTY
>> and SSB/CW split is not exactly a common mode.
>
>However, it would be appropriate when initiating SPLIT from the A->B
>button that VFO B mode be forced to that of VFO A if VFO A is digital
>and the frequency of VFO B be forced to that of VFO A if VFO B is on
>a different band rather than SPLIT N/A.
>
>Unlike Ian, I would not want the VFO B *frequency* changed (e.g., Quick
>Split) as long as it was on the current band since I'm just as likely
>to have set it manually even if I have not set the mode and the "Smart
>Split" splits will invariably be different mode to mode (up 1 in CW,
>UP 2 in RTTY, UP 5 in SSB, etc.) and band to band.
>
>73,
>
>    ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
>On 2014-10-02 11:13 AM, Dick wrote:
>> Frank,
>>
>> Like yourself, I do quite a bit of DX RTTY operation using split, and
to
>> tell you the truth, I just tried what you are talking about, and you
are
>> right!   To me honest with you, I hadn't noticed it before because I
have a
>> nasty habit of "double pushing" the SPLIT button before holding it to
>engage
>> split.  This relative simple operation of double pushing the SPLIT
button
>> transfers everything from A to B; then pushing the SPLIT button works
just
>> fine.
>>
>> Am curious what "a whole lot of button pushing" means to you?
>Personally,
>> I don't consider double pushing the same button I use to go split
once,
>> before holding the same button to be "extremely annoying".   And I do
not
>> have any issue with the K3 not going split with RTTY on one freq and
>CW/SSB
>> on the other.  You have to admit operating RTTY and SSB/CW split is
not
>> exactly a common mode.  SSB and CW split (though not common) does
>occur.
>>
>> In any case, I hope you do not "dump" your K3 because you find a
double
>> push, and then a "hold" to be that much of an annoyance.
>>
>> Dick,  K8ZTT
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
>Frank
>> Westphal
>> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2014 12:03 AM
>> To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Split N/A
>>
>> Every time I change modes from CW to RTTY or RTTY to CW I get the
Split
>N/A
>> error message.  I do not get this message when changing modes from
>> CW to SSB or SSB to CW.   Since I am primarily a DXer who works split
>> having to change from split operation before mode change and then
>change
>> back to split operation requires a whole lot of button pushing.  This
is
>> extremely annoying almost to he point of considering selling the K3.
>> Elecraft told me this was for my own protection.  I don't need a
company
>to
>> tell me this is for my own protection and not willing to make a
product
>easy
>> to operate.  I hope someone out there is radio land has a firmware
fix for
>> this annoying issue.  Otherwise I have enjoyed operating the K3 for
the
>last
>> year.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Frank
>> K6FW
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
>Frank
>> Westphal
>> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2014 12:03 AM
>> To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Split N/A
>>
>> Every time I change modes from CW to RTTY or RTTY to CW I get the
Split
>N/A
>> error message.  I do not get this message when changing modes from
>> CW to SSB or SSB to CW.   Since I am primarily a DXer who works split
>> having to change from split operation before mode change and then
>change
>> back to split operation requires a whole lot of button pushing.  This
is
>> extremely annoying almost to he point of considering selling the K3.
>> Elecraft told me this was for my own protection.  I don't need a
company
>to
>> tell me this is for my own protection and not willing to make a
product
>easy
>> to operate.  I hope someone out there is radio land has a firmware
fix for
>> this annoying issue.  Otherwise I have enjoyed operating the K3 for
the
>last
>> year.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Frank
>> K6FW